Nicholls softball teams ends Houston Classic with 11-2 win over UMass

The Nicholls softball team made sure there would be no repeat of an earlier loss in the Houston Classic to UMass, scoring eight runs in the bottom of the first inning on the way to a run-rule win of 11-2 in five innings of the Minutewomen on the final day of the tournament on Sunday.

Nicholls (6-5) lost an earlier game to UMass 2-1 when the Lady Colonels allowed two runs in the bottom of the seventh after going into the inning with a 1-0 lead.

UMass took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning before Nicholls countered with its eight runs while pounding out eight hits.

Alexa Poche was hit by a pitch to load the bases after Erin Krause and Reagan Heflin opened the inning with back-to-back singles. A double by Molly VandenBout scored two runs to give Nicholls a 2-0 lead.

After Bradley entered the game in relief of Streicher, Brynne Songy greeted the new UMass pitcher with a run-scoring single.

The other runs in the inning came on a sacrifice fly by Abby Andersen, an RBI-single by Rylie Rutherford, a run-scoring double by Samantha Gwiazda, along with run-scoring singles by Krause and Heflin.

Nicholls sent 11 batters to the plate in the inning.

The Lady Colonels scored two runs in the second, while Nicholls and UMass each added a run in the third inning on the way to the game being called after five innings.

Averi Paden (2-0) picked up the win, allowing two runs on six hits in four innings of work.

Over the course of the five games, Heflin collected six hits while driving in four runs and scoring three runs. VandenBout also had six hits with three RBI and one run scored. Claire Sisco had four hits and drove in four while scoring two runs.

Houston 5, Nicholls 1: The Cougars erupted for four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to ignite the win over Nicholls.

Mandy Esman and Jordee Wilkins each had two-run doubles off of Audrey McNeill to give Houston its 4-0 lead.

Nicholls (4-3) had taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth. Rutherford drew a one-out out and advanced to second on a passed ball. A flyout by VandenBout moved Rutherford to third, who scored on a wild pitch.

Houston scored the game’s only other run in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly by Esman.

Nicholls was limited to one hit, a leadoff single by Gabby Higbee to open the game. Three Houston pitchers combined to issue six walks.

McNeill (3-2) took the loss, allowing four runs on four hits and three walks, while striking out one in 3 2/3 innings.

Nicholls 7, Texas-San Antonio 0: Nicholls quickly bounced back from the opening loss to Houston, scoring seven runs in pounding out 11 hits, including a pair of home runs in the win over UTSA.

Heflin hit a home run in the second inning and Songy connected with another in the fourth to power Nicholls.

For the second game in a row, Higbee led off the first inning for Nicholls with a base hit. Unlike the Houston loss when she was stranded on the bases, Heflin belted a home run to center field, giving the Lady Colonels the early 2-0 lead.

Nicholls (5-3) added another run in the bottom of the second inning when Andersen reached base on a bad throw by the UTSA first baseman, stole second and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Songy before scoring on a ground out by Sisco.

Songy led off the fourth inning with a home run. With runners on the corners, Higbee followed with a run-scoring single. Heflin followed with an RBI ground out, and Krause a run-scoring single to give Nicholls all the runs it would need in the 7-0 win.

Molly Yoo (1-1) went the distance in picking up the win, allowing no runs on four hits and two walks, while striking out five.

UMass 2, Nicholls 1: The Minutewomen scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, including a walk-off home run to rally past Nicholls.

UMass entered the seventh inning trailing 1-0.

After Jordyn Graime scored on a wild pitch to tie the game, Grace Cadden hit a home run to give UMass the win.

The only run for Nicholls (5-4) came in the fourth inning. Heflin opened the inning with a single, stole second base, and advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Krause to set up a run-scoring ground out by Poche.

McNeill (3-3) suffered the loss, allowing two runs on two runs on five hits and one walk, while striking out three.

Houston 11, Nicholls 3: The Cougars used a seven-run fourth inning on their way to the five-inning win because of the run rule as Houston defeated Nicholls for the second time in the tournament.

Five of the seven runs were unearned because of two Nicholls errors. Big blows in the inning included a run-scoring single by Jazmyn Rollin, a two-run single by Kennedy Thomas, and a two-run double by Bree Cantu.

Nicholls (5-5) led twice early in the game 2-0 on a two-run home run by Sisco in the second inning. A sacrifice fly by Songy gave Nicholls a 3-2 lead in the top of the fourth inning.

McNeill (3-4), the second of three pitchers for Nicholls, suffered the loss. She allowed six runs, only one of which was earned, on three hits in 1/3 of an inning.

Nicholls committed three errors in the game.